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Comment by pbnjay | Hacker News Reader

I find it amusing that they used an Apple keyboard... Then again the chiclet style keys seem to be a big factor in the build.

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AFAICT, It's one of the cheapest bluetooth keyboards [1] on Amazon. They just hacked in some new electronics.

I recognized it immediately because I also had to tear off the plastic casing. It shipped to me with a loose connection.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Slim-Bluetooth-Wireless-Keyboard...

It looks like they borrowed the Apple's chiclet keys and frame, when he flips it over the PCB has Microsoft written over it [1]. To be fair for a prototype why wouldn't they use it, it looks nice and sleek, its flat and thin so sensors can be inserted between the gaps and more or less they had one lying around in their office.

[1] http://youtu.be/Y3dUeGNIX4M?t=1m14s

... umm.. because its white? and every thats white is Apple?

If you actually look at it you'll see its a not printed anything like an Apple keyboard, the letters are offset for one, they are centered on Apple keyboards, and has Windows keys.

It's definitely an Apple keyboard (look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3dUeGNIX4M&feature=youtu.be... — the command key is clearly visible), albeit an old one.

It’s not an Apple keyboard, it’s a keyboard made by some manufacturer other than Apple (it seems to be some cheap Apple keyboard knock off), but with OS X modifier keys.

However, that’s barely relevant. They built a prototype, probably with some cheap keyboard they either had around or just quickly ordered online. The particular keyboard used for this particular prototype is literally of no relevance at all. It doesn’t even have anything to do with what they want to show.

I really don’t get this whole fucking discussion. It’s some of the most stupid stereotype pattern matching that I have every seen on HN.

Looks like it has a Command key to me.

So has the cheap clone keyboard linked here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7671321

The default position that all innovation comes only out of apple (vis the Apple keyboard comment) suggests that: 1. Apple marketing is still doing a great job convincing everyone they still have innovation in the heart of everything they do (I dare say it's not innovation as improvement and miniturisation) 2. Microsoft needs to do more to burnish it's innovation credentials

As much as I want to agree with you, the keys have OS X labels on them, such as the command button, so this is an actual apple keyboard modified with sensors.

Funny since this was a Microsoft research project.

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